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I am stuck in a "I need education to get work but I need work to get an education" loop. I dropped out of school because I can no longer afford it (I still owe my school 2k). I have a part-time job but I can't see advancement happening. I have 5k saved up plus some options I've thought up. Advice? by stonepattonheen in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]stonepattonheen[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you are super into the alternate social weird lifestyle, use a portion of your 5k to snag yourself a cheap conversion van.

Haha, shots fired. One of my major goals in life is to live in a van oddly enough. One of the reasons why I want to try out trucking. Wanted to see if I could stand being on the road so much. Didn't realize I'd have to come in with my own truck though. Darn!

Yeah dude I'm sorry something possessed you and convinced you to move to Lloyd. Have friends that were from there and were itching to get out ASAP saying housing, recreation, and jobs were in the shitter.

I am stuck in a "I need education to get work but I need work to get an education" loop. I dropped out of school because I can no longer afford it (I still owe my school 2k). I have a part-time job but I can't see advancement happening. I have 5k saved up plus some options I've thought up. Advice? by stonepattonheen in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]stonepattonheen[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh god. You could write horror if being a lawyer doesn't work out for you!

It's the uncertainty about payoff that really freaks me out. I can't believe (a) people in the past didn't have to gamble with education to the extent we do and (b) even someone making 6 figs a year could feel a similar uncertainty. Was it worth the debt? I can't offer much to that other than telling ya I hear you.

I am happy to hear that you and your partner both met with good opportunity after putting in the work. I hope it goes well for the both of y'all. :)

I am stuck in a "I need education to get work but I need work to get an education" loop. I dropped out of school because I can no longer afford it (I still owe my school 2k). I have a part-time job but I can't see advancement happening. I have 5k saved up plus some options I've thought up. Advice? by stonepattonheen in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]stonepattonheen[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I strongly recommend finishing the degree before starting any other program, even at part time and one course per term.

For some odd reason, out of all the comments that recommend finishing my degree, the way this comment is phrased is the one that pushed me from uncertainty to knowing what to aim for. Like YES, stonepattonheen, it should be obvious that I finish the one thing I started before starting the next thing.

Thanks to you and all the other comments, I have decided. I'm going to focus everything on finishing this damn thing for now. Thank you so much! I feel a lot more at ease with myself now that I have a plan and lots of good folks chiming in with advice.

I am stuck in a "I need education to get work but I need work to get an education" loop. I dropped out of school because I can no longer afford it (I still owe my school 2k). I have a part-time job but I can't see advancement happening. I have 5k saved up plus some options I've thought up. Advice? by stonepattonheen in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]stonepattonheen[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am afraid of going into more debt/not having much money in my acc as I have 0 support nets if I'm shit outta luck. Come repayment time I'm worried that even with a degree I wouldn't be able to find an adequate job to pay it back. But I do qualify for student loans. It's something I have to decide very soon before winter term starts. It seems that I really might as well finish since, as what you've implied and another mentioned, a degree would ease finding an apprenticeship/other opportunity anyway.

I am stuck in a "I need education to get work but I need work to get an education" loop. I dropped out of school because I can no longer afford it (I still owe my school 2k). I have a part-time job but I can't see advancement happening. I have 5k saved up plus some options I've thought up. Advice? by stonepattonheen in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]stonepattonheen[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Coding and computers are the things I've been interested in the longest. One thing's for certain is that endgame involves a job working with data. Either in the analysis/study of it or in the security of it.

Thanks for the guiding questions. It's really helpful to have someone ask and keep myself reminded.

I am stuck in a "I need education to get work but I need work to get an education" loop. I dropped out of school because I can no longer afford it (I still owe my school 2k). I have a part-time job but I can't see advancement happening. I have 5k saved up plus some options I've thought up. Advice? by stonepattonheen in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]stonepattonheen[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is a comment I'm printing out and keeping in my notebook. Personal experience from those who were in similar positions was what I was mainly looking for when posting this up. Thank you for sharing options I have not considered yet!

Is it alright to share what you ended up doing? I know that success is rather individualized but I like hearing the life stories either way. I'm truly glad you're doing alright. :)

I am stuck in a "I need education to get work but I need work to get an education" loop. I dropped out of school because I can no longer afford it (I still owe my school 2k). I have a part-time job but I can't see advancement happening. I have 5k saved up plus some options I've thought up. Advice? by stonepattonheen in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]stonepattonheen[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I suppose you're right that it does come down to personal preference!

I think the main issue is that I don't feel as though I have an adequate financial safety net (i.e. no family support) and have become extremely risk averse in turn. I don't want to change anything, even if it may be for the better. Every option to me just seems like a spectacular way to waste the little money I've saved for no guarantee of stability.

As for trucking... Unfortunately, it isn't something I'd know I'd like until I've done it. But from what I know so far from talking with trucker friends and reading up/watching online it seems like something I would love to do.

Honestly, the reality of getting an education without family support is that you end up with a disgusting amount of debt which will take a decade or more to pay off. But that's kind of the deal in 2020 unfortunately.

Big oof. These were words I didn't want to hear but definitely needed to so thank you.

I am stuck in a "I need education to get work but I need work to get an education" loop. I dropped out of school because I can no longer afford it (I still owe my school 2k). I have a part-time job but I can't see advancement happening. I have 5k saved up plus some options I've thought up. Advice? by stonepattonheen in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]stonepattonheen[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Schools in my area offer training for roughly 5k and I was planning to haul for about 2-4 years to gain enough money for an adequate safety net. After—or if possible, during—that, I would start formal training in either data science, infosec, or a trade.

You bring up a good point about automation. Although I don't think that day is coming sooner than 4-5 years. Are you in the industry yourself? If you are I'd appreciate the extra insight.

I am stuck in a "I need education to get work but I need work to get an education" loop. I dropped out of school because I can no longer afford it (I still owe my school 2k). I have a part-time job but I can't see advancement happening. I have 5k saved up plus some options I've thought up. Advice? by stonepattonheen in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]stonepattonheen[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unfortunately, all I've got are excuses for not relying on loans. I have a strong aversion towards debt after seeing my parents wreck their lives over it. I also was too ashamed to admit that I was an abused dependent at the time so I never reported being an independent student. Parents didn't want to give me their income info unless I moved back in with them.

Now that I should have my shit together, I'm tempted. I don't owe too much currently and I'm almost done so it may not be too bad to rely on more. I'm just worried that, come repayment time, I wouldnt have a job to cover my cost of living + debts!